My husband and I had a rockin’ time at Universal Orlando’s Rock the Universe. This event is fun for all ages. We saw families, small groups, and lots of large youth groups all excited to be at the event. The weather tried to ruin our night from the start with a heavy rain and thunderstorm, but it passed, and many were having fun even in the rain!

We were invited as media to cover this event. All opinions are my own, and may differ from yours.

Last weekend my family had the amazing privilege to tour Universal Orlando Resort’s newest attraction Diagon Alley. The Magical World of Harry Potter comes to life before your eyes as you walk through the streets and see such familiar places as Weasley’s Store, Gringotts Bank, Knockturn Alley (complete with Borgin & Burke’s), The Leaky Cauldron, and Ollivander’s Wand Shop. Universal’s newest attraction Harry PotterDiagon Alley is a smash hit! If you are a Harry Potter enthusiast then Universal Studios and Island’s of Adventure are not to be missed.

Exploring Diagon Alley

As you first get to the back of Universal Studios you see the London backdrop and Harry Potter’s house, which was given to him by his godfather Sirius Black, and then if you stay a bit longer you will see the house elf, Kreature, stick his head out of the window to spy on all of the picture takers.

We were invited as media to attend. No additional compensation was received.

Summer at SeaWorld is going on now through August 10th! Two new shows are featured at the park:

The nighttime show, Shamu’s Celebration: Light Up The Night, is a high-energy show featuring new, original music and production elements, as well as new killer whale behaviors. Shamu Stadium is transformed with stylistic lighting and colorful backdrops to create a social and celebratory atmosphere, guided by a host each night, and ending with a fireworks finale.

We were invited as media to attend this event. No additional compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

It’s no secret, we love Universal Orlando Resort and their Mardi Gras Celebration is no exception. This “N’awlins”-inspired, family-friendly version of Mardi Gras runs select nights through June 7. Guests can enjoy authentic Cajun cuisine and see performances by bands pulled straight from Bourbon Street. Plus catch traditional beads from the same maker used for New Orleans Mardi Gras event, while enjoying 12 beautifully decorated parade floats.[Read more…]

We were invited as media to attend this event. No additional compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Last month we shared our amazing press trip to the Universal Orlando Resort, but there was even more fun I’ve yet to share with you all. One of our evening’s was spent at Universal CityWalk’s Hard Rock Cafe & Blue Man Group. While I did mention recently that CityWalk is undergoing a major expansion, these trusted favorites have been a go-to for locals and tourists alike.

I was invited as media to attend coverage for this event. No additional compensation was received. All opinions are my own and may differ from yours.

Yesterday I headed to SeaWorld Orlando for Jack Hanna Weekend. It’s the kick-off weekend for their #SeaWorldWildDays event happening each weekend in January.

The morning started with a behind the scenes tour of SeaWorld’s conservation area. This was a real treat as I have been to SeaWorld many, many times, but never experienced a behind the scenes tour. As a guest you can book a tour for your group. Many times this is offered to school-aged children to learn more about animal conservation. [Read more…]

January is here, and that means we have a whole new set of movies to look forward to this year! Here’s the line-up of upcoming 2014 Walt Disney Studios Movies releasing this year. I am personally excited for Need for Speed, while the boys (including Hubby) are all about the Marvel movies. Disneynature Bears and Planes: Fire & Rescue are dear to my heart, and I’m looking forward to seeing those as a family. I’m intrigued to hear more about The Hundred-Foot Journey. I love Oprah! And Alexander and his very bad day looks like a cute movie.

We were invited as media to attend this special event. No additional compensation was received. All opinions are my own, and may differ from yours.

SeaWorld Orlando transforms into a wintery wonderland where guests of all ages can join in the fun. SeaWorld Christmas Celebration is INCLUDED with park admission and promises to get you in the holiday spirit with fantastic winter shows and attractions. What can you expect to see at the theme park on select nights through Dec 31, 2013?

If you follow me on social media, you might have caught a glimpse into last weekend’s #UniversalHolidays adventure. The family and I enjoyed a packed weekend filled with holiday fun at the Universal Orlando Resort. Here’s my 5-year-old and I, excited for the day ahead!

I was invited as media to cover this event. No additional compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Whoa! Universal CityWalk is getting a major facelift. During a press conference earlier this week I learned about 8 new restaurants opening at Universal Citywalk. The Red Oven is the first to open its doors at Universal Orlando Resort’s “front door”. The Universal Studios Store is also undergoing a major expansion. [Read more…]

I was invited as media to cover the event. No additional compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Earlier this week I was invited to Universal CityWalk to learn of the upcoming expansion to Universal theme parks. In place of where Jaws used to reside, Universal Studios Florida is building a London scene with DIAGON ALLEY behind it.

That’s right this new development is located in Universal Studios, while the existing Wizarding World of Harry Potter will remain at Islands of Adventure. Check out this video below of the Universal Studios President discussing what’s to be expected of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter DIAGON ALLEY attraction, and the Hogwarts Express train! [Read more…]

We were invited as media. Park admission and parking was included. No additional compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Join SeaWorld Orlando every weekend in October for silly, spooky fun at Spooktacular from 12 to 8 p.m. Families will be immersed in an underwater “fantasea” filled with loads of bubbles, candy stations, dancing with sea fairies and pumpkin fish, and sea-themed arts and crafts.

I was invited as media to LA to attend a press event. Accommodations were provided. No additional compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever toured a prestigious place like the Vatican Musuem in Rome? I did years ago, and it was really a special moment in my life. Recently I had the opportunity to tour Disney’s Animation Research Library, and the experience was very comparable to that moment I walked into the Sistine Chapel.

Described as a “repository of just about all the animation art that the Walt Disney Company possesses” mentioned Fox Carney, our tour director. He also indicated the Animation Library houses 64 to 65 million pieces of artwork, everything from shorts and features, from the 1920’s all the way to current day.

We were invited as media to spend a day at Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure parks. No additional compensation was received.

Before summer ended, we really wanted to spend a family day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks. As you know, the boys are huge <— (understatement) superhero fans, and what better park than Islands of Adventure to get your superhero fix!

First on the list was the highly anticipated new Transformers 3-D Ride at Universal Studios Orlando. I was so impressed by this ride. It really is an “ultra-immersive” ride as Universal describes. My 5-year-old went on the ride twice, since baby boy is still a bit too short to ride. The height requirement is 40″. Just around the corner from the ride is the option to meet some of the transformers in person, which is really neat.

During my LA trip earlier this month, I had the opportunity to meet one of the stars of the Disney movie Super Buddies. Rosebud is the only girl in a gang full of superhero pups. That’s something I can totally relate to. 🙂

We were invited as media to attend this event. No additional compensation was received.

When the sun goes down at SeaWorld Orlando, a new world of fun and adventure comes to life. Summer Nights at SeaWorld Orlando is a nighttime spectacular that includes incredible shows, an all-new attraction – Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin – thrilling coasters under the stars, and a nightly Shamu show that ends with a bang. During Summer Nights –- June 22 through August 11 — SeaWorld is open until 10 p.m., providing even more time for guests to play.

We were invited as media to attend the event. No additional compensation was received.

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death of children ages 1-14. Research shows that if a child doesn’t learn to swim before the 3rd grade, they likely never will. The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson is designed to draw attention to this issue, and encourage participation in swimming lesson programs.

Last week tens of thousands of kids and adults at aquatic facilities around the world united for the fourth year in a row to set a new Guinness World Record. Aquatica was proud to be one of those facilities and encouraged all of their guests to join in this special event.

U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Ambrose “Rowdy” Gaines was onsite to lend a helping hand with the lesson. I had a chance to talk one on one with Rowdy about the event, including offering the number one tip every Mom should know. Listen in on the video below:[Read more…]

This Saturday, June 1st from 9am – 1pm kids can enjoy a free workshop at Home Depot! They receive a free apron and will create a Lawn Mower Pencil Holder plus a FREE child’s ticket to any Merlin Entertainment Group Attraction, including Legoland theme parks, Legoland discovery centers, Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE Aquariums!! Click here for additional information on this offer.

We were invited as media to Seaworld Orlando for a 2-day experience of the new Antarctica attraction.

Now open, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin is the single largest attraction expansion ever at SeaWorld Orlando and the coldest theme park attraction in Orlando. A combination of innovative technology and up-close encounters with penguins in their 30-degree world makes Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin an all-new realm and a thrilling, chilling adventure of a lifetime.

Busch Gardens® Tampa’s newest live stage show “Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation” premieres on May 18 in Stanleyville Theater. Guests will party along the characters from DreamWorks Animation’s hit Madagascar franchise, including Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo and King Julien on a vacation adventure at Busch Gardens Tampa.

To celebrate the arrival of the laugh-out-loud, high-energy family show, the Tampa park will host a premiere party weekend on May 18 and 19, complete with on-the-hour dance parties and meet and greets, in addition to the show’s premiere.

The lively stage show encourages families to sing, clap and dance along to original songs and party favorites on a 20-minute musical adventure. Singers, dancers and a live band join the rollicking Madagascar characters as they amp up the party to full throttle. And as part of each show, guests can meet the characters following the performance in Stanleyville Theater, which has been renovated and is now an enclosed and air-conditioned theater.[Read more…]

If you’re looking for a family friendly atmosphere that is just as fun as New Orleans, minus all the madness, then Universal’s Mardi Gras is the place to be! Our family was invited there over the weekend to join in on the extravaganza!

Little ones can sing, dance and play the day away, Saturdays at SeaWorld starting January 12. Families can see live performances from popular kid-acts and groove to the music, enjoy kid-size rides and meet furried friends up close while spending a family fun day together at SeaWorld. Just for Kids is included in SeaWorld admission and takes place Saturdays from January 12– February 2.

SeaWorld Orlando Just for Kids

Universal Orlando Resort’s Holidays celebration is where families create holiday memories to last a lifetime. Florida residents can now take advantage of a special ticket offer and vacation package allowing them to come face-to-face with The Grinch at Grinchmas, watch majestic Macy’s balloons wind through the streets and hear Christmas music sensation – Mannheim Steamroller – perform beloved holiday classics.

Busch Gardens Tampa opened their doors for the first time ever for a Christmas experience. The park transforms into Christmas Town from 6-11 pm every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening through Dec 23rd.

The nighttime holiday wonderland of wintery surprises and all things Christmas, fills guests’ senses with seasonal sights, sounds and flavors, and creates a beautiful new tradition for families. If you live in Florida, this is a must-see this holiday season!

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